Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Programs

Have you been thinking about becoming a psychiatric nurse practitioner? If so, you may be in for an exciting career in the future. This may not be the most popular sector of nursing in the world, but it is certainly something that is still in demand. In order to become a psychiatric NP, you will need to complete a master’s level degree program to get the training you need for your job. The information below highlights the work involved with psychiatric nurse practitioner programs so you can be prepared to go through with one for your career. Read on to see what may be in store for you.

Common Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Programs

There are many programs you can go through on your way to becoming a psychiatric NP, and any one of them should give you all the information you need to start your career. You may find different names for the programs in different schools, but the training within them should remain the same. Common names for this degree include:

Every psychiatric nurse practitioner program is a little different when it comes to the courses involved with it. Some programs are more comprehensive than others, but they all aim to teach the same materials in the end. Here are just some of the many classes you may come across in your degree:

Advanced Health Assessment

Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology

Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics

Conceptual Foundations in Family Therapy

Development and Psychopathology

Differential Diagnosis of Mental Disorders

Neurophysiology of Mental Disorders

Organizational and Professional Dimensions of Advanced Nursing Practice

Psychopharmacology

Psychopharmacology for Child and Adolescent

Science and Research for Advanced Nursing Practice

Systems and Populations in Health Care

Therapeutic Interventions across the Lifespan in Mental Health Nursing

Life after a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Degree Program

Once you complete your degree program, you will need to get a certification to verify your abilities as a psychiatric nurse practitioner. There are many of these to choose from, so try to research the ones necessary in your state. Possibilities may include:

Certifications

Advanced Practice Registered Nurse-Board Certified:

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)

Pediatrics

American Nurses Credentialing Center

Advanced Cardiac Life Support

Critical Care

Family Practice

With your degree and certification in place, all you have to do is find an employer in need of your services. This should not be an issue because there is a big demand for this field at this time. Here is a look at the money you may be making if you enter this profession:

Salary by Experience

Less than 1 year of experience: $62,462 – $96,523 per year

1-4 years of experience: $60,267 – $103,939 per year

5-9 years of experience: $59,350 – $117,923 per year

10-19 years of experience: $64,564 – $120,171 per year

20 years of experience or more: $67,602 – $109,055 per year

Think about your plans for the future and see if psychiatric nurse practitioner programs fall in line with them. If so, you could start looking for a program to enroll in today.